Backstage at the National Dog Show
Promoting Purebred Dogs in Pennsylvania BY DAN SAYERS
S howing dogs can be a wait- ing game. For the exhibitor whose dog is awarded Best of Breed or Vari- ety at 9 am, waiting for Group judging to begin can seem ago- nizingly long. With any luck, the show will have a specialty or sup- ported entry to watch in the meantime. Or maybe a friend will come around looking
One of the very few remaining benched shows held in America, this show and those like it are the best antidote to the weariness experienced by many of today’s show-and-go (show-and-wait?) fanciers. First held in 1879, “Philadelphia” has introduced innumerable local residents to purebred dogs. But today, owing to its Thanksgiving Day broadcast on NBC, the National Dog Show brings the purpose and the pleasure of owning a purebred dog straight into the homes of millions of viewers each year. And though the telecast may be respon- sible for making the initial introduction, it is the benching area at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks that facilitates the connection. After all, there’s nothing quite like meeting a Bergamasco Sheepdog or a Spinoni Italiano up close and personal. At this year’s show, many visitors had the chance to meet the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje for the first time. The Sport- ing Group’s most recent competitor seemed a big draw back at the benches, thanks in large part to the breed’s friendly dis- position and its silky white coat with red patches. Of course, the breed’s black-tipped earrings and richly feathered tail make it genuinely hard to resist. Equally difficult to ignore on the benches were the Lagotti Romagnoli and Spanish Water Dogs. With their curly and colorful coats, these two breeds seemed to elicit a caress from passersby almost as often as they encouraged onlookers to query, “Is this a Doodle?” That particular question can get old really quick, but devo- tees seemed to consider it an opportunity to educate the
for an extra pair of hands—or shoulder to cry on. But if a show is particularly small or held in an open field in the hin- terlands, there may be little need for an assistant and no real competition worth watching. Time can crawl about as slowly as a whelp full of mama’s milk. So, what’s an exhibitor to do with all the down time? Is there any real benefit to waiting for Groups? Does sticking around help to promote the sport of dogs in any meaningful way? Well, in the backstage benching area at the National Dog Show hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, sitting around was all an exhibitor needed to do to promote his or her favorite breed to the dog-loving public.
The William L. Kendrick Memorial Challenge Trophy remains one of the most coveted winners’ cups in the sport of dogs.
The National Dog Show hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia can leave a positive imprint—or paw print—on exhibitors and spectators alike.
182 • S how S ight M agazine , D ecember 2018
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